Former Gunner Patrick Vieira believes if Robin van Persie leaves Arsenal this summer then others will likely follow – an accurate and honest statement in my view.
With only a year left to run on his existing contract, Van Persie has yet to sign a new deal and is being tracked by several major clubs around Europe, including Barcelona, Real Madrid and newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester City, where Vieira is now in charge of football development.
Should the Gunners fail to keep hold of the 28-year-old Dutch striker, Vieira has warned his former club and manager that the likes of Theo Walcott, who also has a year left to run on his current deal, and England midfielder Jack Wilshere will more than likely follow suit:
‘It is one of the things they should have closed a long time ago. It is difficult to understand.
‘It’s really difficult to find players of the quality of Van Persie with one year left all around the world. It is a big risk because they lost Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas last year.
‘If they lose Van Persie, it will be a drama. With Samir and Cesc, you can say, ‘OK, those two are gone but you know Jack Wilshere and Van Persie are still at the club’.
‘But if Robin leaves that means next year it may be Theo Walcott, next year’s going to be Wilshere.’
Vieira added:
‘What is important for Robin is he wants to win trophies. Arsenal have to show him he can do it with Arsenal. The best way for them to get him to sign a contract is to bring players to the club who can show him the club are in the same line as him.’
I think Vieira is pretty much stating the obvious here, and adding more pressure on our club and the situation, which is not needed.
If RVP leaves then it will be a massive blow for Arsenal, but one I think we could recover from. Still, you want to keep your best players and the Dutchman is undoubtedly the man at Arsenal. Should he leave, I can certainly see Walcott follow, mind you I wouldn’t really care. In the case of Wilshere, the lad is Arsenal through and through, so he won’t be even thinking about departing the Emirates.
Listen, we’ve done remarkably well for ourselves this season, especially when you consider our poor start. We managed to finish one position higher than last season, as well as two points and two goals for, better offer, this without Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri! However, its high time that our club got back in the mix for trophies, none more so than the Premier League. And I believe if we keep RVP, as well as bring in some top notch players this summer, then we will be in with a chance of lifting some silverware next season.
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Why is it that an executive in charge of football development for a major rival of Arsenal is allowed to opine about the future of Arsnal’s players? [Please no statements about Vieira being an Arsenal legend. We hear nothing from Bergkamp.]
When are the authorities going to take a stand on this type of activity, which is for all intents and purposes taping up?
Vieira fucking cunt
Manchester City, where Vieira is now in charge of football development.
Shouldn’t your opening read, “Manchester City’s Director of Football Development Patrick Vieira believes if Robin van Persie leaves Arsenal this summer then others will likely follow”?
This isn’t a former Gunner speaking (even though is), it is a direct competitor. This is the man who was in constant contact with (read “tapping up”) Samir Nasri (as claimed by Na$ri recently) last spring and summer while still under contract to Arsenal. His credibility in this matter isn’t speaking as a former Captain, it is as one who stands to directly benefit from the situation. His thoughts are as relevant as those of Alex Ferguson, Sam Allardyce, Alex McLeish or Phil Brown. And we all know how much credence their advice would be given by Gooners. His comments shouldn’t be taken with a grain of salt – they should be taken with a salt mine.
Viera shd know that he played fr arswnal , period more players will come. Where is Flamini ??? Viera shd ask himself . He left Arsenal but arsenal still there. He shd concentate beind Director in man city , why concern arsenal???
Shock horror a player leaves a club and then so does another one! Of course they could leave and so could anyone else. any player that leaves is usually followed at some point by another player leaving. fuck me if everyone stayed we would have squads full of 70 year olds and there would be no transfer market. i remember when brady and stapleton left and every expected oleary to follow suit and many others. well he never some did though but so what it is never the end of your club.
another of those money grabbing cunts with a big mouth
I think Viera should not say like that. His statement would open the mind and influence for both Wilshere and Walcot to leave Arsenal . If that really happens then to Arsenal may weaken in the future and have potential of not being a big club anymore. This kind of statement should not come from Arsenal legend.
Viera was a very good player for us, but his touting for them, has tarnished his standing in our history
There is a major issue with the Arsenal Ex’s. Here is a man who got much love from Arsenal – now to find himself in a position as a crook, and a lazy one at that. Imagine with great talents the world over and money no object, yet he chooses the cloke and dagger approach. Instead of approaching the club that nurtured his talent. He sneaks behind the back to seduce players.
Money bring out the worse in certain people!
The whole Viera thing is beginning to get really old. He was an Arsenal great in his day, but that ‘tag’ will be stripped from him if he continues to speak about a club he no longer has justification to.
RVP won’t go for money alone, and if he has no class and will fit right in with the rest of the heartless mercenaries at ‘Citeh’.
Walcott I’m 50/50 on. on his day he is quality but then the next game he’ll put his headless chicken boots on.
Jack??? Where did his name get dragged in to the mix. He’s a life long gooner as are Jenkinson and Frimpong.
Boil Viera’s dross down and what you end up with is a shopping list of players that city just can’t produce from their unlimited funds, because they don’t have the class with in.
Jack ?? Hhahaha..
So funny you saying that ‘ legend ‘ . Jack will not leave Arsenal ..